Millie resigned to possible prison term

Millie Elder. Photo / Janna Dixon

The estranged daughter of broadcaster Paul Holmes appeared alone in court as her father was preparing to farewell her grandmother in Hastings.

Millie Elder's adoptive father told mourners of their Millie's close relationship with his mother, Chrissie Hobson.

Elder was making her first appearance at Waitakere District Court on a charge of driving while suspended. She was bailed to reappear later this month.

Wearing jeans and sporting a fresh tattooed heart on her middle finger, the former model said she was a totally different person from the woman she was two years ago.

On the dole and proud, she said she had found true love and happiness with her live-in partner Connor Morris, a kickboxer and son of patched Head Hunter Chris Morris.

Elder, who has had a very public battle with P, claimed she was drug-free.

She said she was "pissed off" by her father's scathing comments about the Head Hunters on his TV documentary Chasing The Ghost, which highlighted the P issue through the lives of people destroyed by the drug.

Millie keeps in touch with her mother Hinemoa Elder and her brother Reuben but has not spoken to or seen her father for months. The last contact came when she received a bunch of flowers from him for her 21st birthday, four months ago.

Elder is facing a raft of drug and bail breach charges, and admitted getting confused which court dates were for which allegations.

But she was realistic about her situation - and the possibility of a prison sentence.

"If it happens, it happens, I will just deal with it. There's not much I can do about it."

Holmes told his mother's funeral service that he hoped his daughter would one day recognise how much she was loved by her nana.

One mourner said it was the most poignant point in an "absolutely beautiful eulogy".

Holmes said his mother was ready to go, and had left instructions for the service, which was held at a funeral home and followed by a function at her bowling club in Hastings.

This weekend, Holmes said: "I'm so sad Millie wasn't at the funeral. And I'm so sad Millie was back in court. I knew where I had to be.

"If Millie's drug-free, I'm happy. If Millie finds it possible to defend the Head Hunters, I'm disappointed. She wasn't brought up for Head Hunters."